Marathon

To grasp the popularity of this discipline, one needs only to look at the extraordinary attendance at the world’s major marathons and the prestige these races hold. The world's largest cities host their editions: Paris 🥖, Rio de Janeiro 🦜, San Francisco 🏖️, Beijing 🇨🇳, Montreal 🍁, and Lisbon 🇵🇹 among others. These renowned races gather thousands of participants and are consistently sold out within weeks. For runners, completing a marathon is a huge achievement. It’s a tough and demanding challenge, requiring intense and lengthy preparation.

Yet, there are as many reasons to run a marathon as there are types of athletes! Whether it’s to push your limits, to set a record, for the beauty of the race, to sculpt a dream body, for the vibe, or to earn that finisher's medal 🥇, completing a 42.195 km race is today’s goal for many runners. To understand what makes this distance so legendary and captivating, we must look back to its origins, or rather, its legend 👇.

As a sporting discipline, the marathon first appeared in 1896, during the inaugural Olympic Games of the modern era in Athens 🇬🇷. However, this event is believed to be much older, dating back to 490 BC! It is said that in Ancient Greece, following the Battle of Marathon, the messenger Pheidippides ✉️ completed the first marathon in history 📖. He reportedly ran from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks' victory over the Persians ⚔️. The 40 km distance he covered in one go supposedly killed him. But don’t worry, it’s probably just a myth! 😅 Otherwise, the Athens Marathon wouldn’t be bustling every year! Historians don't all agree on this tale. Nonetheless, there are a few certainties: the marathon is named after the town and this story, its origins are indeed ancient, and you won’t meet the same fate as Pheidippides! 😂

The reason is simple: today, the practice of marathon running is carefully organized and managed with great attention to detail. Event organizers go the extra mile to provide a safe environment for athletes 👍. Osteopaths, masseurs, volunteers, refreshment stations, snack bars, and medical services are just some of the measures implemented at competitions to ensure they go smoothly. However, that alone obviously isn’t enough to finish a race! To succeed, you also have to give it your all! 🏋️‍♂️ At this point, everyone has their own method and training plan 😉.

But, there are still a few tips to help you reach your goal: ensure appropriate and regular training, have already completed a 10 km or a half-marathon, maintain a good diet and lifestyle (including restorative sleep 💤), stay well-hydrated, and have gear suited to the terrain and season. Once you feel ready, you can finally set off! 😍 And now, you might be wondering: "okay, running a marathon is great, but how do I find the right one for me?". To which we’ll respond: "look no further than Finishers! Just browse through our marathon calendar 😇".

And speaking of the calendar, do note that marathons happen all year round. However, most marathons are held during mid-season (March/April 🌸, September/October/November 🍂), to avoid the extreme heat and adverse weather. In terms of technical features, marathons are run in cities, sometimes even from city to city, on asphalt, and on flat surfaces, with few exceptions. However, as the distance has become popularized over the years, today it offers a variety of formats to meet runners’ expectations 🏃‍♂️.

Thus, there are marathons for charity 🤝, to be run in pairs or as a relay, environmentally friendly races, or those accessible to parasport athletes ♿️. Some are also festive events as they offer gourmet refreshments, costume contests, or run on special themes (like Christmas 🎄 or Halloween 🎃, for example). You can also choose your race based on geographic criteria: by the seaside, on a volcano, in castles, stadiums, parks, capitals or at altitude. In short, there are countless types of marathons! Finding the one that best matches your preferences will surely help you achieve your goal more easily 🎯.

A Marathon in the United Kingdom? What a splendid idea 🇬🇧!

Immediately, the iconic London Marathon comes to mind, known for its incredible atmosphere created by 2 million spectators along the course 📣! Plus, it's perfect for setting a personal best, with a flat route through the capital's streets. (Legend has it that every second runner leaves with a personal record along with their Finisher's medal!). At the Edinburgh Marathon, you’ll dive into Scottish history as you run through the picturesque streets of the city, with breathtaking views of its famous castle. 🏰 How about starting your race in England, crossing the border into Wales, all while soaking up the historical heritage of both cultures at the Chester Marathon? For the duration of a race, citizens 🔵 and red devils 🔴 will run side by side for the Manchester Marathon, an emblematic city in the north of England. Close your eyes and imagine a 42km run with sea views and a rocking atmosphere? That’s exactly what the Blackpool Marathon offers, set in the heart of this famed British seaside resort. As for the Kielder Marathon, it unfolds amidst the wild nature of Northumberland, featuring a course surrounded by lakes, forests, and breathtaking landscapes 🏞️. Each spring holiday, a real running festival takes place in the northwest of London where you’ll find the Marathon of Milton Keynes along with other races for the whole family! Launching at the Belfast Marathon, the culture and hospitality of Northern Ireland will be evident as you tackle this challenge through its capital. Achieve your most beautiful strides along the historic banks of the Southampton Marathon? If you prefer the sea breeze, the Brighton Marathon is perfect, with its stunning south coast and vibrant atmosphere. 🌊 More into nature? No problem, the scenic roads of Wales await you at the Great Welsh Marathon, for an experience amidst lush nature and historical sites. 🌿 Meanwhile, an epic coastal escapade awaits you at the Cybi Coastal Marathon, just hop over to the Irish island where untouched nature and ocean views will amaze you. 🏝️ And there's more! There are other Marathons in the United Kingdom waiting for you…

As you can see, the United Kingdom is a fertile ground for running competitions. As a result, it boasts numerous renowned athletes. That includes Paula Radcliffe, still considered one of the greatest marathon runners of all time, having won 8 of the 13 marathons she participated in. Her favorite being London, with 3 titles and a world record in the discipline that she held for 16 years following an extraordinary performance of 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds at the London Marathon 2003 ⚡️. Mo Farah is also a legendary British runner, knighted and lauded in England with his 4 Olympic medals 🥇! He set the European marathon record with a run of 2 hours 5 minutes and 11 seconds at the Chicago Marathon in 2018. By comparison, there are only 4 minutes and 36 seconds separating Mo from the world record of the late Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum! Not too shabby, right? 😏

It's impossible to mention him without acknowledging the current world record holder on the women’s side: Kenyan runner Ruth Chepngetich clocked an impressive 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds in October 2024 during the Chicago Marathon. Like so many others, she has made her mark on the history of sport, athletics, and, in particular, the marathon distance. Just like the Czechoslovakian star Emil Zátopek, the all-rounder, who won three gold medals at the 1952 Olympic Games 🏆 (5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon). Other marathon greats include the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, the American John Hayes, the South Korean Sohn Kee-Chung, the Portuguese Carlos Lopes, the Cuban Alberto Salazar, and the Americans Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb and Katherine Switzer 🌎.

Many of these athletes have excelled in fast international races that have earned solid reputations. Among them are the World Marathon Majors, the six most famous races in the world 🙌. Together, the WMM comprise a championship that rewards winners with a sublime medal and inclusion in the official website’s database. The marathons that make it up are thus considered the best in the world: the Tokyo Marathon 🗼, the Berlin Marathon 🐻, the New York Marathon 🗽, the Chicago Marathon, the London Marathon 🎡, and the Boston Marathon.

If you’re reading this page, you know that our beautiful language is also spoken in other countries, including the United States, which also has its marathons. In addition to the 3 legendary World Majors, you can take part in the San Francisco Marathon with stunning views of the iconic bridge and city hills. Speed through the lively streets at the foot of the mountains during the Salt Lake City Marathon, offering a unique experience in the American West. In Cincinnati, the Flying Pig Marathon celebrates humor and friendliness while showcasing the beauty of the city’s neighborhoods and green hills. In the Rocky Mountains, the Denver Marathon invites you to launch through the spectacular mountain landscape and breathe the fresh air at 1600m altitudes. Heading down to the west coast, the San Diego Marathon promises typical sunny Californian weather along fine sandy beaches ☀️. Washington D.C. also offers a great race: the Washington Marathon will take you through the iconic monuments of the national capital, a unique racing experience between history and modernity. Not to mention the Miami Marathon, your journey in the magic city promises to be unforgettable. Feel free to explore all the marathons in the United States!

In Canada 🇨🇦, the Vancouver Marathon and the Montreal Marathon offer diverse landscapes of parks, beaches, bridges, stadiums, and monuments, ensuring you’ll never get bored!

But fret not, you don't need to fly the equivalent of hundreds of marathons to find a top-notch race! Fortunately, Europe is vast and home to numerous countries that also host their marathons. To name a few: the Amsterdam Marathon, the Rotterdam Marathon, the Paris Marathon, the Dublin Marathon, the Vienna Marathon, the Valencia Marathon, the Seville Marathon, the Barcelona Marathon, the Venice Marathon, the Florence Marathon, The Rome Marathon, the Brussels Marathon, the Lisbon Marathon, the Marathon of Budapest, the Copenhagen Marathon, or the Stockholm Marathon ⭐️. All are prized for their speed ⚡️, beauty, or the quality of their organization and are easily reachable by train, bus, or plane. The possibilities are indeed vast 😊. So, why not start?

Who knows? Maybe you too will make history! To find out, lace up your shoes and dash to the finish line! 🏁